Stampin' on Saturday ~ The Sky's the Limit

This week's class was based around the Sky is the Limit stamp set. We made three cards, one of which I shared on Wednesday*.

I created the background by using a splotch, from Gorgeous Grunge, stamped in sky blue. I stamped the plane image and added a vapour trail, which makes the shape of a heart so I highlighted that by colouring in red. I stamped the clouds in pale grey on a scrap of card, fussy cut and stuck on with foam pads.

The second card started in exactly the same way. This time I fussy cut a second plane, which I added over the first with foam pads, to give a bit of dimension. I left the vapour trail as it was. Stamped the sentiment onto a strip of card and cut a banner end. I then added another smaller banner to balance the composition.

The banner strip was a little longer than required and I meant to adhere it with the excess hanging over the edge so that I could trim it off, but I completely forgot!

*I'm writing a tutorial for that circular spinner card, but the photos will have to wait until we get some sunshine. Hoping that won't be too long. Have a lovely weekend.

Stampin’ on Saturday ~ DIY Project Life Cards

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

As you may know, I’ve moved away from traditional scrapbook layouts over the past couple of years and into the Project Life style of memory keeping. I still have piles of 12 x 12 paper (who doesn't?!) and it seems a shame to let it gather dust.

Instead, I've been chopping it up and making my own cards to fit the pocket pages. The set below were made from a matching paper collection and a few index cards. I realise the latter is unlikely to be acid free, but that sort of thing doesn't really worry me. If you’re only writing on them and they are in separate pockets, away from your photos, I don’t think it’s much of an issue anyway. That’s a personal choice.

My index cards were 6 x 4”. I cut them in half and added a strip of paper. Washi tape would work well too. That’s all you need, if you have a lot to say. Lighter coloured papers with small patterns also work well for journalling. This is about as simple as it gets. I tend to have a stack of these cut, ready to add photos and embellish further, when I’m putting the pages together.

With the busier patterns and darker colours, I had to get a little more creative. By adding strips and circles punched from the index cards, I’ve made them suitable for journalling. They work as photo mats without. I punched banners and fussy cut the hexagon pattern to add a bit of interest to the plain 3 x 4 cards.

Of course, you don't need to cut up whole sheets of paper, like I have, scraps work perfectly for this. You can stamp on them and add embellishments to your heart’s content. They would come in handy as journalling spots on full size pages, if you are not into pocket page scrapping. Why not have a go?

I set this as a challenge for NSD on For the Love of Pretty Paper, which is a UK based paper crafting group on Facebook. Pop over, if you fancy joining in.

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.

Stampin’ on Saturday ~ Gift Box Tutorial

I’m back to show you my stamped panel, turned into….

…..a very simple gift box.

If you’d like to make one then you’ll need:

a piece of decorated cardstock, or patterned paper* cut to 8 1/4” x 5 1/2”

a scoring tool, scissors, glue, hole punch and a length of ribbon.

Starting with the long edge at the top score your card at 2, 4, 6 and 8”. Turn it clockwise so that the short edge is at the top and score at 2”. I’ve left my card plain and drawn the scoring lines on so that you can see them more clearly. Your card will already be decorated with stamps or you can use patterned paper instead.

Here’s the decorated version, scored and cut, ready to fold. The panels above the horizontal score line remain intact. I’ve cut along the vertical score lines below it, to make the flaps that form the base of the box and removed the 1/4” strip, leaving a tab above to join the main part of the box. Punch a small hole in the far right panel about 1/2” from the top and another to match in the second panel from the left.

Turn the piece of card over so that the blank side is facing up. Fold in the left hand panel along the first vertical score line. Put some glue on the tab and fold the right hand panel in to adhere.

Once it is firmly stuck, open out into a box shape, fold the flaps under and glue to form the base. I like to keep the tab at the back left and fold in the back flap first, followed by the two sides and lastly the front flap to give a neat finish.

Gently push the sides in with your fingers and squeeze the top of the front and back panels together. Thread a piece of ribbon or twine through the holes. Tie to hold the box closed and you’re done.

Let me know, if you have a go. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

*If you are cutting from a 12” x 12” sheet of patterned paper you could make your width 8 1/2” to give you a bigger tab for gluing. I’ve made mine 8 1/4” purely because that is the width of an A4 sheet of cardstock.

Stampin’ on Saturday ~ Four Feathers

As promised, I’m back with a few cards for you. Whenever I am considering purchasing a new stamp set, I always try to think of three different ways in which I could use it, *before* I part with my cash. If I can’t, then I don’t buy. With the Four Feathers set it was easy to visualise what I would do with it and once I had it in my hands the ideas just kept coming.

Stamped simply in soft blue and green with a sentiment added. It took longer to cut the card to size than it did to stamp it. I inked up half of each feather with a different colour inkpad. Easy to do. Just a little care needed.

The line drawn feather in the set lent itself to the Triple Stamping technique. I added some speckles from Gorgeous Grunge to break up the cream background.

Lastly, my favourite, a watercolour version using all four feathers. It divided the class as some are not keen on “messy” techniques, preferring a clean crisp finish. This is much more my own style and the type of card I would usually make for the fun of the process, rather than a class project. I coloured the stamps using water based marker pens and misted lightly before stamping. Gorgeous Grunge puts in an appearance again, around the edge this time. It reminded me of speckled eggs.

There you have it, Three ways with Four Feathers. I have a feeling it won’t be the last you see of it. I’ve yet to explore the possibilities of the matching dies.

Happy Easter everyone.